Ex-minister of environment Valeriu Munteanu considers the effects of the construction of another six hydropower plants on the Nistru River planned by Ukraine will be felt not tomorrow or the day after tomorrow, but in over 40-50 years, when the Nistru dries. In an interview for Radio Free Europe, the former minister said both ecologists and scientists of Moldova and Ukraine could determine the negative effects on the Nistru following such actions, IPN reports.
Valeriu Munteanu said the talks on the issue started not yesterday or the day before yesterday, but long ago. As regards the consultations with the Ukrainian side, the Ukrainian authorities have always treated this problem from the economic perspective, regardless of the color of the governments, and this case was the responsibility of those from the energy sector. “In our country, the functioning of the hydrological system was the responsibility of the Ministry of Environment. This institution no longer exists and those who were in charge were dispersed and no one is now responsible for this issue,” he stated.
According to the ex-minister, particular changes occurred in Moldova since April-May until now and these make him believe that the official position of the Republic of Moldova also changed. “When I was at the Ministry of the Environment, on the last 100 meters they insisted on the building of hydropower plants or the rehabilitation of Soviet hydroelectric plants built in the 1950s on the largest branch of the Nistru – the Raut River of Moldova. We were against then,” said Valeriu Munteanu.
He also said that Ukrainian authorities will never sign a document in the form wanted by Chisinau as, if they cannot close and open the faucet when they need, they will be unable to secure the necessary volumes of water and of electrical power that they sell and buy. Moldova should insist on its position and those who keep an eye on this subject should press the authorities. The Moldovans should realize that this is an important subject and those in charge who will concede will commit crimes against Moldova.
